Japan Deploys Its First Long-Range Missiles
Tokyo : Japan’s first long-range missile has been deployed at an army camp in the southwest, the country said on Tuesday, as it seeks to strengthen its offensive capabilities.
Upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles developed and manufactured by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have become operational at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto prefecture.
“As Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment in the post-war period… this is an extremely important capability to strengthen Japan’s deterrence and responsiveness,” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters. “This shows Japan’s determination and ability to defend itself.”
The upgraded Type-12 missile has a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles); this is a significant extension from the 200 kilometers (125 miles) range of the original and will enable it to reach mainland China.
Deployment of the long-range missile provides Japan with a “standoff” capability; This means it can strike enemy missile bases from a distance; This marks a break from the country’s long-standing policy of pure self-defense under its pacifist constitution.
Residents opposed to the deployment near the residential area protested outside the Kengun camp, saying it would escalate tensions and increase the risk of the area being targeted by potential enemies.
Japan is rolling out more weapons systems to protect southwestern islands Also Tuesday, a new weapon system designed for island defense, a hypersonic glide vehicle, was deployed to Camp Fuji in Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo. Additional deployment of upgraded Type-12 missiles and heavy vehicles to other locations in Japan, including Hokkaido in the north and Miyazaki in the south, is planned by March 2028.
Japan also plans to deploy U.S.-made 1,600-kilometer (990-mile)-range Tomahawk cruise missiles on the Japanese destroyer JS Chokai later this year and eventually on seven other destroyers.
Takaichi increases defense spending against China Japan sees China as the main regional security threat and has been strengthening the country’s southwestern islands near the East China Sea in recent years.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet in December approved a record defense budget plan of more than 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the fiscal year starting in April and aims to strengthen offensive capability and coastal defense with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals.
Last June, Japan spotted two Chinese aircraft carriers operating almost simultaneously near Japanese remote islands in the Pacific for the first time, sparking Tokyo’s concerns about Beijing’s military activities extending far beyond its borders.
The defense secretary last week announced the creation of a new office to examine China’s Pacific activities.
Tensions have risen further since Takaichi’s November statement that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could precipitate a Japanese military response.
